Nifty News

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Sunday, August 17, 2008

Hey there! I've had such a busy week. The kids go back to school soon and I'm trying to do a few more fun things with them before then. And of course, I've been glued to the TV every evening watching the Olympics with Austin and Savannah. Wow, they've been fun to watch! It makes me want to flip my way across the family room floor. It makes me want to do really fast laps at the neighborhood pool. Ok, ok, it makes me want to make use of the gym pass that's been collecting that unidentifiable debris that settles at the bottom of my purse and do some walking at least.

Jackson's birthday party was fun. I think everyone had a good time. Yes, I made his cake. I googled "tropical cake" and found a picture of one that I used as a guide for the cake I made. I know it turned out pretty cool, but I still look at it and feel like a slacker because I didn't find the time to make the hibiscus out of royal icing earlier this week. And the chocolate top for the snack shack, that Savannah tried to make for me, didn't turn out well so we ended up using a plastic coconut shell for that. Oh and the surf boards were a last minute idea that were made out of iced cardboard instead of edible icing. Maybe I'm insane, but stuff like that bugs me.

We went to my niece's (and goddaughter's) christening today.I had to tell Brooklyn, during dinner at my bil and sil's house,"Don't put M&Ms up your nose.""Why?""Don't put M&Ms up your nose, Brooklyn.""Don't put M&Ms up my nose? Why?""Because I said so!"So, she listened to me. She took the M&Ms out of her nose. And she ate them. Um.

Then later tonight, I had to tell her,"Don't put grapes between your toes.""Pinky toe! Pinky toe! Pinky toe!""Brooklyn don't put grapes in your toes.""I eat them?""Yes."At this point she took the squished grapes out of her toes and ate them. Which is worse - bacon-cheese crickets, booger M&Ms, or toe jam grapes?

OK, here's my Sunday Sound Out:Sorry if this has been asked before but what software do you use to edit your video clips (and add titles etc., the times you do that)?I just use Windows Movie Maker. There are probably better programs out there, but this came on my computer and Austin was able to show me how to use it, so it works for me. :)

Does Clay use the tolet brush as a microphone??Nah, he uses it as a weapon of destruction. Lexi's more the type to use it as a microphone.

Is Brooklyn going to preschool at all this year where you'd be *gasp* alone for a few hours at some point during the week?Nope. She's still all mine this year. I will, however, be getting a little break from her partner in crime Clay a couple hours a week.

Have you contacted ebay about the refusal to pay guy? They should be able to give you a refund, right?They refund the final value fees but not the listing fees.Are you expecting?I'm expecting my kids' class schedules in the mail any day now.

Have you not seen Forest Gump? I know you've mentioned not watching too many movies before, but that is a can't miss one! *Of COURSE* table tennis is an Olympic Sport! :)You know, I almost commented on Forest Gump, but then had second thoughts because I couldn't remember for sure if he played ping pong in the Olympics and I didn't want to sound like an idiot. Well, more of an idiot anyway. I haven't seen that movie in many years. Maybe it's time to rent it. I haven't seen Castaway since it first came out either. I think I'll have to have Tom Hanks night after the Olympics.

Something up for discussion... at what age do you (and others) think it's OK for children to be left home alone for short periods? My friend and I do not see eye2eye on this, nor should we b/c IL and most other states do not have a law, just guidelines. Just curious about others. Thanks!Hmmm good question. I think it really depends on the kids. You know what your kids are capable of more than anyone else. Would they be able to react appropriately in an emergency? Would they be scared to be alone? Would they follow your rules or invite friends over or do other things they aren't supposed to do while you're gone? How far away will you be? How long will you be gone? Are your neighbors home and able to help out if need be? These are some things to think about. Illinois is one of few states that actually has a law about this. They say it's illegal to leave any child under the age of 13 home alone. I trust my 12 and my 13 year olds. I think they're mature enough to handle being at home alone for a short time. My 10 year old? No way.

Your tile [in the bathroom] is beautiful! Did you guys do it yourself?Joe did all the remodeling on the bathroom and it only took him 15 years to do it. OK, so it's really only partly due to his procrastination. Mostly, the delay was due to lack of funds. The tile does look really nice, but I didn't want that tile. Know why? Now that bathroom doesn't fit in with the whole "white trash garage sale" theme we have going in the rest of the house.

Hope you had fun! Did you visit the artwork on the top floor of the [Kenosha Public] museum?Only very briefly. This is about the time the sugar-filled Jelly Bellys became so concentrated in the kids' blood stream that they actually went into orbit. (The kids, not the Jelly Bellys) Afraid we'd have to pay for some 4600 year old carved ivory statue from Asia if we stayed any longer, we quickly escorted the kids outside where they proceeded to run around in circles like chickens with their heads chopped off.

Rodents of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist.LOL! Love it!!!

Did you buy some "Belly Flops?" But of course! One doesn't go to the Jelly Belly factory and not buy Belly Flops. I also got a 10 freaking pound box (it was only $10 there!) of my new favorite candy! It's chocolate covered Sunkist orange gems! I just love chocolate and orange together. Mmmm.

Oh did Lexi forgot her glasses again?Oh no, they were broken. Again. We see the good folks at For Eyes every other week. I think it was Brooklyn who got ahold of them and bent them this time.

I'm surprised you aren't taking the kids out to ride on Thomas the Tank Engine or have you done that before?? We are making the trip out to Union (the middle of nowhere) tomorrow.Oh heck no! I try to avoid insane crowds of people and from what I hear Thomas makes for an expensive, crowded day out there. I hope you made it out alive! :)

Do you think that if enough of us were to have our boobs hanging down to our waists that it might just become fashionable? I think it's worth a try!!!

So, when are you headed to MD to put your cake brain together with ACE OF CAKES, Duff?I've already decided that Duff is going to be so impressed by my novice cake making skills that he's going to offer to make me a congratulations cake when my book comes out. He doesn't know this yet, but I'm sure he'll agree, don't you think? I just love his laugh. Doesn't he make you smile when he laughs?

Do you really have a Pear laptop just like iCarly?iCarly? I know this one! A tween show starring that girl from Drake and Josh, right? I have no idea what kind of computer she has, but I have an HP. In fact, at the BlogHer conference, HP had a booth there where they were showing off this little baby computer. It was so darn cute! I want one because it's so small and they told me they could paint it pink! No, I don't need one. I have a perfectly wonderful, new one right here. But it's small. And pink!

So?? did they like the crickets??Tastes just like chicken.

LOVE the cake, and if you say you made that yourself, I think I may have to throw up.If I say that I bought it, will you promise not to throw up? I don't do barf.

Okay...what did you use for the thatched roof on the cake?I used a grass tip (has several holes in it) then I just kinda pulled the icing out as I moved the bag of icing down the side of the roof.

Do your kids actually have an uncle named Sam, or did Jackson get those crickets from the United States Government?LOL! They have an actual Uncle Sam who plays catch and lightsabers, and "flip me upside down again!" with the kids. Oh, but speaking of the other Uncle Sam! I keep forgetting about this! I know I have a lot of readers who are part of a military family and I have a little information for you guys. I got this information at BlogHer (can you believe I'm just now going through the bags of stuff I received there?!) Anyway, it's Military One Source. This is a program provided by the Department of Defense which provides help with child care, personal finances, emotional support during deployments, relocation information, or resources needed for special circumstances at no cost to active duty, Guard and Reserve (regardless of activation status) and their families. Their website is chock full of information and I just love these ads. Are these kids adorable or what?

You really should give lessons [on cake decorating] -- ever consider it?No, I but keep saying I'll make an instructional video one of these times.....

My goodness, what would you charge for a cake like that?A million dollars. There are not enough hours in the day to do cakes for money.

How long did it take you to make [the cake]?Not including baking time, it took me about 4 hours to decorate. Speaking of cakes....a couple readers shared this link with me and I want to pass it on. This woman posts pictures of less-than-awesome cakes on her blog. The cakes themselves are pretty funny, but her running commentary is hilarious. You can check it out HERE.

Oh, and does the item at the end of your blog about Joe showing you the garage door mean that he's installed a sensor? Hopefully that will be a big load off your mind. Yes. And no. HERE.

what did you use to make the spherical shaped thingy in front of the hut? My almost-7-year-old wants a cake that depicts the scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark where the huge, round, boulder is rolling down out of the cave at Indiana Jones, and I'm trying to figure out how to do a small, absolutely round boulder. I thought of two small pyrex bowl-shaped cakes glued together with frosting, but if you have any suggestions, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!Eh, I just used a piece of plastic for that. But I know how you can make a perfect ball shape! Get THIS PAN from Wilton! I've used it to make baseballs and Pokeballs. It's super easy! An Indiana Jones cake would be fun to make! Good luck with it!

Where does one go to buy bacon/cheese flavored crickets? Just curious!Bob's Bait & Tackle?

I totally get the $1 million cake comment. I scrapbook and people are always telling me I should sell pre-made pages. HA! The only people I do scrapbooks for is my immediate family and grandparents - too much work and time for anyone else.

Is is wrong that I feel famous because two (count 'em, TWO!) of my comments/questions made it into this week's SSO? Thanks for the round cake pan tip...I'll look for it!

And I just assumed Rick couldn't use the acutal apple without paying MacIntosh royalties of some sort, so he changed it to a pear, kind of like how the Fox Trot cartoonist guy makes Jason et al. have an "iFruit" desktop. I must think too much. But then again, I didn't notice Savannah's hair color change.

FWIW - The IL law on not leaving a child alone until 13 is actually a not hard and fast. My lawyer friend got me a copy of said law and basically its squishy so that should anyone want/need to press neglect charges for leaving a kid alone, they can, but you can also leave kids alone before the age of 13 should you deem your kid responsible enough.

You did a wonderful job on your cake!! My sister-in-law has gone into business for herself as a baker (www.chouxbakery.com) so I don't even bother to try! My lousy betty crocker mix wouldn't even compare.

Oh my gosh!! I have never laughed so hard in my entire life as I did at those Cake Wrecks!! That is now me new 2nd favorite website..after yours of course!! Perhaps one needs good absorbant undies while reading!!! I admit, I laughed so hard I did pee a little!!

I totally agree with the "It depends on the particular child" theme. I started leaving my 13 year old home alone at age 11, for short daytime stints. She's never had a problem, and we can leave her for much longer now. My 8 year old? He may be 45 before I trust him home alone. And the 6 year old? The jury is still out on that one. Time will tell.

And thanks for nothing with the cake website. It's hilarious and I wasted most of my morning chortling at my computer screen. Too funny! I loved it!!

Dawn,THANKS for that CAKEWRECKS link!!! I haven't laughed that hard since I started reading your blog a year ago.I don't see who that talented writer is, but whomever (is that grammar wreck?) is hilarious!!!

I got stuck with a tent full of 10-12 year old girls last week and had a full 5 minute argument with a 10 year old on why she could not put blueberries in her nose. I could have sworn that GIRLS at least outgrew that desire during the toddler years!!! (I know that guys never outgrow the urge to do stupid things.)

Whenever the wee ones eat food that's been somewhere that puts it into the I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole let alone eat it status and yet the wee ones happily pop it into their mouths, I simply remind myself that they're strengthening their immune systems and it's all good because that means fewer trips to the doctor. Right? Please tell me I'm right.

Oh, and if you put M&Ms up your nose, you can tell Brooklyn that she'd end up like Little Miss with Goji berries up her nose that I had to pick out with a tweezer. Not fun for either of us.

You should SO make sure you have a Duff cake for your book release party. It's only fitting. How rocking would that be?

Yeah I know... it's sad. I've been out of town since 4am on Sunday (ever noticed how few people are awake and have their lights on at 4:30am on a weekend?) and am only now catching up and yes, I have to read every post I missed. And apparently comment on most of them, too.